CogniTens automated 3D non-contact robotic cell for on-line repetitive part measurements

Citation

(2002), "CogniTens automated 3D non-contact robotic cell for on-line repetitive part measurements", Industrial Robot, Vol. 29 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2002.04929faf.004

CogniTens automated 3D non-contact robotic cell for on-line repetitive part measurements

CogniTens automated 3D non-contact robotic cell for on-line repetitive part measurements

Keywords: Automotive, Metrology

CogniTens Ltd has unveiled two new products in its Optigo 3D non-contact measurement (see Plate 3). The Optigo 200 is a portable, high accuracy measurement and analysis system for applications requiring high throughput and enhanced accessibility measurement in harsh environments. The OptiCell is an automated measurement system for on-line process control and QA on the shop floor. Its rugged optical head designed to be installed on an industrial robot allows fast repetitive part measurement in uncontrolled vibration, light and temperature environments.

Plate 3 The CogniTens automated 3D non-contract robotic call

CogniTens now offers a complete family of measurement systems, with higher throughput and compact optical head size, for the automotive and aerospace industries. The systems allow collection of highly accurate and dense clouds of points, and immediate analysis of the collected data to find deviations from specifications and flaws in tools and parts. Image acquisition is performed in sub-millisecond single exposures preventing measurement errors that can be induced from vibrations, lighting conditions and temperature variations.

Optigo 200

Optigo 200 is the portable member of the family. With its high-resolution CCD cameras, a single exposure collects all the data required to analyze a tool or a part. Integrated mapping capabilities allow the system to perform photogrammetry and measurement without using an external mapping camera. The built-in applications allow instantaneous handling of the collected data to provide the user with measurement results of surfaces and features, comparisons to CAD, Digital and Virtual assembly tools and reporting. The results allow engineers to quickly make process and tool corrections, to reduce the time it takes to develop dies and molds and improve the quality of parts manufactured.

Optigo 200 employs two accessibility platforms, an off-the-shelf tripod and a new, high accessibility platform, the Vertex, which is a complementary pedestal developed by CogniTens to allow full car, in-car and large tool measurements. The Vertex is designed as a self-balanced pedestal and is specifically tailored for shop-floor operation in narrow corridors and doorways, as well as transportation between sites.

OptiCell

The OptiCell is an automated measurement system designed for on-line process control and quality assurance on the shop floor. With its super-fast sub-millisecond acquisition time and an optical head designed to be mounted on an industrial robot, the system can operate in any harsh environment. Highly accurate measurement capabilities and automatic repetitive measurement functions allow the OptiCell to measure multiple parts in sequence, providing manufacturing managers with part to CAD deviation information, trend reports and go/no-go utilities. The OptiCell has self-calibrating tools to maintain highly repeatable accuracy and has been tested with a variety of low-payload robots.

“We have developed these systems in close cooperation with major automotive manufacturers”, says Koby Rosenthal, CEO and President of CogniTens. “Our customers believe that the ability to perform fast and highly accurate measurement on the shop- floor, in harsh environments, is a gap that all manufacturers in the automotive industry are required to close. Without immediate information on production processes it is becoming increasingly difficult to shorten time to market, increase quality of parts and processes, and reduce re-work and scrap.”

For further information, contact: Mr. Zvika Rotem, VP Marketing. Tel: 011 972 3 548 8226; E-mail: zvika@cognitens.com